Tile.



No. 645,800. Pat anted Mar. 20, I900. F. FURNESS.

TILE.

(A ucazim filed Mar. 26, 1991. (No mm.

FI'CiAA m: Noam: Prrns ca. PHOTDLITHO" WASHINGTON. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FURNESS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,800, dated March 20, 1900.

Application filed March 26, 1897. Serial No. 629,436. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FRANK FURNESS, aciti zen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Tiles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to so form a tile that a number of tiles of the same conformation when combined will form a solid interlocking surface, as fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved tile. Fig. 2 isa plan view. Fig. 3 is a plan View showing the method of interlocking, and Figs. 4 and 5 are views of modifications.

It will be understood that the tile may be made of any suitable material and may be of non-yielding substance, such as clay or stone, or may be made of a yielding substance, such as rubber or linoleum.

The tile is'preferably made as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is formed of the main body A, narrower at the waist a a than at the necks b, and at each end of the tile are arms (1 d, forming a T-head at each end of the tile. These arms are preferably undercut, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the space a: between the two opposite arms will receive a head of an ad-- joining tile. The ends e of the head are beveled on the same line as the undercut, so that they will interlock with the undercut arms, thus preventing the tiles from pulling apart. Each head is also shaped to conform to the shape of the Waist of the tile, the greatest width of the tile being through the'longitudinal center.

While I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the heads and waist of the tile coming to a point, they may be rounded, as shown in the modification, Fig. 4, when it is wished to modify the design, or the sides of the body may be parallel, as in Fig. 5, in whichcase the heads are fiat to conform with the sides.

Owing to the peculiar shape of the tile, I

tiles are locked to the central tile, and when four additional tiles are placed so as to completely surround the central tile these tiles interlock with the first four and make a complete and rigid structure.

I claim as my invention-- 1. As anew article of manufacture, a tile having undercut notches at each side forming heads at each end of the tile, the heads being beveled at each side, so that the head of one tile will fit the notch in the adjoining tile and interlock therewith, substantially as described.

2. A tile having a body portion narrower at the center than at the ends formingawaist, and having an undercut T-head at each end, the outer surface of each T-head having the same contour as the waist of the tile, so that a series of tiles of the same contour can be assembled and interlocked, substantially as described.

3. A tile having a body portion A, arms 01 d forming a T-head at each end, said arms being undercut, the ends e of the arms being of the same contour as the undercut portion and at right angles thereto so that they will interlock with the undercut arms of adjoining tiles, substantially as described.

4. A tile having an elongated body narrower at the center than at the ends, arms extending from each side at each end, said arms being undercut, substantially as described.

5. A tile having an elongated body narrow at the center and gradually increasing in width'toward each end, arms extending from each side at each end, said arms projecting at an angle to a line drawn through the 1ongitudinal center of the tile so as to form an 7 undercut cavity in each side of the tile, the heads of the tile being of the same contour as the cavity, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK FURNESS. 

